The Guernsey Choral Society was formed in 1948 by John Longmire. John Longmire, who was born in Lincolnshire, moved to Guernsey prior to the Second World War. He joined the evacuatiuon from the Island in anticipationof the German occupation but returned after 1945. He was a prolific composer of piano music and also wrote for solo voice and choirs. Much of his output is still available.

At around the time of the outbreak of the Second World War British composer and organist John Ireland lived briefly in Guernsey and he and John Longmire became friends. John Longmire subsequently published a respected biography of John Ireland.

The orchestra was formed in 1971 and the Society name changed to the present form.

Roll-Call of Conductors                                                                                                                            

1948 - 1954                        John Longmire

1954 - 1962                        Winifred Perkins

1963 - 1964                        Gordon Hugh

1964 (Dec) - 1976               Marian Blondel

1977 - 1979                        Malcolm Vivyan

1979 (Dec) - 1983               Roger Surcombe

1983 (Dec)  - 2001             Alan Gough  

2001 (Dec)                         Bruce Cornelius

2002   (May)                      Roger Brooks

2002 (June - Dec)               Keith Dawber

2003 - 2005                       Stephen le Prevost

2006 -                               Helen Grand

In 2008 the Society published A Brief History of the Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society to mark the 60th anniversary. The history was written by Stephen Oliphant, then the immediate past chairman of GCOS.